Someone local to me has a gently used Bates Isabell Dressage saddle for sale with the easy change gullet system and cair panels for $1250. My local tack shop is getting in an HDR Pro Lexus and an HDR Pro Buffalo, both for $1000 new.

Neither. Keep looking. They are worth a try to see if they fir and give you a starting point but both CAIR and that "easy change gullet" thing are totally worthless. HDR is also a poor quality saddle.
You can find used, but well taken care of, saddles like Stubben, Passier, KN, etc.. for the same price.

The Bates Isabell is either a love it or hate it kind of saddle, but cair and adjustable gullets are not nearly as bad as a few people will make them out to be. I have cair in my CC saddle (Bates Hunter Jumper), and many of my friends have the Bates Isabell, and our horses have no issues because of it. Adjustable gullets can be a very valuable too - both my dressage and cc have it, and as my mare's topline has developed I've been able to move her into a wider gullet. If they hadn't been adjustable, both of my saddles would have ended up being unusable.

Out of those, Bates. HDR is not that great of a saddle. But IMO I wouldn't buy either. For that much money, you could find a really nice used saddle or get a Toulouse or something. I have a barnsby dressage saddle. Very good condition paid around $1000 for it.

Also take into consideration that every rider prefers different saddles. Ride in all saddle options on YOUR horse, or the horse you will be using it on before you buy. Some saddles will ride nice on one horse, put it on the next and it will feel horrible! Saddle buying is definitely not a case of going for value for money.

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